Başbuğ was placed behind bars earlier this year as part of a probe into propaganda websites allegedly established by the military to discredit the government.

Speaking on a TV program on Sunday, Erdoğan said Başbuğ should be tried without imprisonment, and that he has never believed the charges directed against Başbuğ. “I have never found the charges directed against İlker Pasha correct. I think claims that he is a member of a terrorist organization are very ugly,” said Erdoğan.

Başbuğ responded to Erdoğan's gesture with a written statement delivered through his lawyer, in which he said: “I thank Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the sincere and truthful remarks he made about me. Our working together in line with our posts gave us the opportunity to know each other very well,” he said.